Sexual Violence

An average of 207,754 Americans (age 12 or older) are victims of sexual violence each year. 80% of these victims are under the age of 30. Unfortunately 54% of sexual assault crimes are never reported to police. For more information on sexual violence, visit the RAINN website, an affiliate of WDVS.

What is sexual violence?Sexual violence is harmful behavior that uses sex or sexuality to control, intimidate or violate another person. These behaviors can include harassing jokes and comments, inappropriate touching, rape, incest, assault, date rape, sexual exploitation, misconduct and abuse. Sexual violence can happen anywhere.

What is rape?Rape is forced penetration by the penis or any object of the vagina, mouth or anus against the will of the victim, regardless of gender. However, because of the social inequities imposed due to gender, race, age and sexual orientation, the most common victims of rape are women and children of all races and ethnicities, as well as non-dominant men.